Golden Vanity- Young (NS) pre1950 Creighton A
[From: Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia by Helen Creighton (1899– 1989) Creighton and Doreen Senior. Five versions of Child 286 were published. Here's a few brief biographical bits from the Maine Folklife Center:
Helen Creighton was born into an old and distinguished Halifax family in 1899 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She was born with a caul, a folkloric sign of good fortune. In the 1920s, she began to write travel pieces, fiction, and stories for the radio.
Creighton began her career as a folk music collector in 1928. In 1931 Creighton found a partner in her efforts; the English folklorist Doreen Senior. During the 1930s the pair traveled throughout Nova Scotia gathering folksongs. Creighton sought out the informants and recorded song lyrics, while Senior transcribed the music. Creighton and Senior published Twelve Folk Songs from Nova Scotia in 1941; and Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia in 1950.
R. Matteson 2014]
A. Golden Vanity- Sung by James Young, East Petpeswick.
1. O there was a British barque in the North Americay,
Her name it was the Golden Vanity,
She was to be taken by a Turkish company,
For to sink her in the lowlands,
For to sink her in the lowlands low.
2. The first man on deck was a little cabin boy,
"Captain what will you give me if the ship I destroy?"
"Oh it's gold I will give you and my daughter for a bride
If you sink her in the lowlands,
If you sink her in the lowlands low."
3. O the boy took an auger and overboard jumped he,
He swam till he came to the Golden Vanity,
He swam till he came to the Golden Vanity
For to sink her in the lowlands,
For to sink her in the lowlands low.
4. O the boy took his auger, went underneath the ship,
And in h"er two holes lie instantly did slip'
He watched her fast sinking, he held on his brace and bit
And he sank her in the lowlands,
And he sank her in the lowlands low.
5. O the boy took his auger and back again swam he,
He swam till he came to the Golden Vanity,
saying, "Captain come save me for I'm sinking in the sea,
I am sinking in the lowlands,
I am sinking in the lowlands low."
6. "O I won't save your life," the captain now he cried,
"I won't give you gold or my daughter for a bride,
I won't give you fold or my daughter for a bride
But I'll sink you in the lowlands,
But I'll sink you in the lowlands low."
7. O the boy took his breath and swam to the starboard side
And unto the mate so bitterly did cry,
Saying; "Shipmates come and save me for I'm sinking in the tide,
I am sinking in the lowlands,
I am sinking in the lowlands low."
8. O the mate took a line and he hauled him o'er the side,
In a few moments after the little fellow died,
O they made him a hammock and they threw him in the tide
And they sank him in the lowlands,,
And they sank him in the lowlands low.
9. Three days later a storm it did arise,
The wind blew a hurricane and dismal was the skies,
And a voice from heaven unto him did say
"O captain, captain, you have been cruel to me
But I'll sink you in the lowlands,
But I'll sink you in the lowlands low."
10. The storm did arise and the ship she went down,
The mate he was saved and the captain he was drowned,
A voice seemed to cry as the captain he went down,
I've sunk you in the lowlands,
I've sunk you in the lowlands low.